“Say, is this a time to be gloomy and sad,
When all nature is smiling around;
When even the deep blue heavens look glad,
And joy springs from the blossoming ground?”
“This may well be called ‘blossoming ground,’” said Helen. “Look, aunt, there is my favourite little ivy-leaved campanula, and the star-thistle in abundance.”
“Yes,” replied her aunt, “and if I mistake not, you will find on the hill-side, near the Dyke, the musk-ophrys, which you were wishing for, to put in your herbal, and some species of orchis.”
“Helen,” said Lewis, “if you care so much for such common weeds as these, I wonder what you would say to the plant captain Manning told us about the other day, with blossoms as large as—let me see—as large round as the flower-bed before your parlour-window: you would be puzzled to get an herbal huge enough for such a giant-specimen.”
“I think,” said Helen, good-humouredly, “I should say that you and captain Manning were laughing at me.”
“Well, then, if you are so unbelieving,” replied Lewis, “ask papa; I suppose you can trust him.”
Mr. Ashton happened to have in his pocket, the number of the Penny Magazine which contained an account of this curious plant; and he read it to the wondering Helen:—